A Star Trek Next Generation based fan fiction novel

Reginald Barclay discovers that space is not the final frontier

Where No Man Has Gone Before

Chapter 3: More than Friends?

I walk down the corridor with no clear destination in mind. People I had known before pass by, and say hello, giving me a
nice feeling. As my prior self, most people didn't even seem to see me at all, even when I talked to them. That was one of
the many reasons I spent so much time on the holodeck, lost in my own world. At least there I got respect, in there I
could be a god. But it wasn't real, and always disappointing when I re-entered the real world. Now I seemed to attract
attention like I always wanted.

The strangest thing was that before when I was the center of attention I hated it, it made me less confident and more
unsure of myself. Now, though I had only been female for a few short days, hours really, since I had slept for most of
that time, I truly reveled in the attention my looks drew. Doctor Crusher was probably more right than she might have
thought. This was the best thing that ever happened in my life.

As I walked the halls, and rode turbolifts at random, smiling at people and saying hello to those I pass. After some time,
I find myself at the door to Ten Forward, feeling supremely confident and sure of myself I enter the room. I get a few
curious looks, but nothing out of the ordinary.

I walk to the bar and see Guinan at the opposite end, as she approaches, I say, "Hi Guinan."

She smiles at me, "Hello Regina, you look very pretty today." Then, "That's a nice outfit you have on."

I was a little surprised she knew it was me and had to ask, "How did you know it was me? Did Dr Crusher tell you to keep
an eye out for me?"

She shakes her head, "No, no one told me. It was obvious, at least to me, you're the only new human on board since the
last planet fall we made, and Reg has been missing since the recent rescue. They had no humans on board so you must be
Reg, though I much prefer Regina. You make a great looking lady, you're going to break many hearts on board the
Enterprise." Thinking that would cause my anxieties to surface.

I surprised her, "Really Guinan, you think so?"

Guinan says, "If even a part of the men or women here are any indication, I'd say yeah!" Looking around at some of the
people, I can see the lust on their faces.

Before we can talk any further, the door opens and my one true friend walks in. As Geordi surveys the room, his gaze ends
at Guinan and I. He walks over with a big grin on his face.

When he reaches us, he says, "Hey Guinan, how are you?" He turns to face me next, thankfully he no longer has need of the
old visor, even his eyes smile. "Reg, it's so good to see you! I'm glad you're okay, how do you feel? A little strange?"
And to put me at ease, "You look fantastic!"

I blush a little, "Thanks Goerdi, I feel fantastic too. But how did you know?"

He keeps smiling, "Only the senior staff knows what happened to you. Though rumor is spreading fast. Apparently a
transporter tech has been talking about a certain young lady who made him feel good about not being at blame for what
happened. But don't worry, all the buzz is good."

I smiled at him, "Thanks Geordi, you've always been my closest friend. And it means a lot that you accept me as I am now.
I really like this new me, I feel so much more in control of my life."

Guinan placed two drinks on the bar and walked away saying, "Andorian Starfires, enjoy." Good thing they were only
sythahol, the real thing was known to be an aphrodisiac for humans, surely Guinan knew that, what was she up to.

Geordi must have been thinking the same thing, he says, "You think Guinan is up to something?" Still smiling at me.

I rest my hand on his arm, an intimate touch between friends. "Or maybe she's implying that we have a mutual attraction to
one another."

Geordi's smile never wavered, "I must say Reg, this change seems all for good, for you. I've never seen you so in command
of yourself, and with your new looks, it's very becoming on you."

"Thanks Geordi, I am more assertive than before. And by the way, it's Regina. I don't ever want to be Reg again, I don't
know how all of you put up with me. You're a true friend, and I hope we can be better friends, that I can prove to you
that I'm a better person now."

Geordi's smile widens, if that's possible, "Regina," Rolling the sound in his mouth, "I like that, it really suits you
too." I blushed a little bit. We picked up our drinks and found a table near the window and watch the local star cluster
pass as we traveled at sub-light speed. There was a nebula off to the port side of the ship that was utterly fantastic to
view.

Sipping on our drinks and making small talk, it became apparent that most of the tables were taken up with couples holding
hands and whispering in the light of the nebula. Geordi startled me out of where my thoughts were headed asking, "So, what
are you going to do now Regina? If you don't come back to engineering, we're really going be short handed down there."

"I would love to come to work with you again Geordi, but the captain says I can't do anything until Starfleet clears me.
Beverly has changed my records and sent them to Starfleet Medical and now it's just wait and see. This is not your average
gender change, tied to it happening during transport. Luckily Commander Riker and three security officers witnessed the
whole thing, so I have that going for me." I didn't realise that as we spoke our hands had come together as if on their
own.

I went to pull my hands away, but Geordi only held them tighter. He kept smiling at me in that way he has, charming and
absolutely endearing. It left me with a warm fluttery feeling. Could I be attracted to my friend? I know I have changed, a
lot. And he was always the type to see the best in every person he knew. He was probably the only person on board any ship
I had served on that had ever defended me. The question was, could he ever see me as anything other than his old male
friend? The way my perceptions seemed to be changing, I certainly hoped so!

We talked for a long time about both work and what we'd like to do on our next shore leave. Without knowing it, the people
changed around us as some would leave and others would take their places, life aboard a starship was a round the clock
cycle. All too soon Geordi realised that he only had a few hours till the start of his shift, a Chief Engineer's work is
never done.

Geordi says, "Regina, I'd really love to spend all night talking with you, but I have to be up in just a couple of hours.
Can you forgive me?"

"Of coarse Geordi, I didn't realise it had gotten so late, you should go to bed." Thinking, if only. Then, "Why don't I
walk with you? My cabin is only a little away from yours."

"What a great idea!" He stood and drew me up, I almost fell into his arms. Looking into his eyes, I told him without words
that I was all his if he asked. We walked out holding hands, behind the bar counter, Guinan was wiping the bar and
smiling, like a cat that caught the canary.

***********************************************

Our walk back to his quarters was in no way rushed or hurried. Not much was said, just strolling hand in hand. Before too
long we stood at the door to his quarters, I started to part from him, but he pulled me closer and kissed me. I thought I
was warm and fluttery before, but now, it was like a core breach in progress, I was so hot I could barely think straight.
When that kiss ended, I thought I was going to need to be carried.

I look in his eyes, "Geordi, are you sure about this? The last thing I want to do is ruin our friendship."

"Regina, all I know is, you are an amazing woman, and that's all I see. You have more magnetism than the last ten women
I've dated. I would like to try at least, if you're not too wierded out about this situation?"

For my answer, I kiss him with more passion than I have ever felt in my life. I practically raped his mouth. Breaking that
kiss took all of my willpower. When I could finally speak, "Geordi, if I go in there with you now, you will never get any
sleep. And we may do something we'll both regret. If you still feel the same way tomorrow or the next, you can have me.
But I think we need to wait."

Geordi smiles seeing the wisdom of those words, "Do you really think I'm going to be able to sleep now!" Laughing, "Over
the last few hours, you have only gotten more beauiful to me, and you were stunningly gorgeous to start with. If I didn't
know better, I'd say Guinan gave us real Andorian Starfires." He takes my hands and raises them to his lips and kisses
each one. "I shall hardly breathe until I see you again."

"Geordi, I may be crazy, but I think this is for the best. Goodnight my friend." I walked away looking back the whole
time. He stayed at the door until I reached my own and entered. I slapped the privacy seal control and think to myself,
you fool, what were you thinking, Geordi makes my legs melt and I pushed him away. What a damned fool.

I fall onto my bed thinking I had made a huge mistake. Almost in tears, sleep overcomes me.

************************************************

Sometime later, I am awakened from peaceful dreams, to the sound of the computer announcing a message. I say, "Computer,
what is the message?"

The synthetic voice says, "Priority contact from Starfleet Command, Commander Alicia Barclay. Standing by."

"Put it through." Then, "Hello mother, how are you?" I genuinely felt more warmth to her than in the past. Hopefully it
would be returned.

"Regina? I just got this report across my desk from Doctor Crusher, and I just had to call. Are you okay dear? Let me look
at you." I step back a bit and do a slow turn for her, knowing that Beverly had sent images of me with the report.

"I'm fine mother, really, I am. I've never felt better." My confidence must have shown through the link, cause she visibly
relaxed.

She says, "I was quite surprised to see your name change, you took mine and your great grandmothers name for your middle
name, thank you for that."

"Thank you mother, as much as I approve of that for a middle name, I hadn't thought about it. Beverly must have chosen it
knowing I would approve of it. How is father doing?"

She said, "Quite well considering his only namesake has suddenly become a beautiful young woman. And I must say, you hold
yourself in a much more positive manner."

"Again, thank you mother, and it's true, I've changed more than you could know. But let father know, his name may skip a
generation, but it will go on, I'm certain of that."

Mom smiles at me, "I see you're a real take charge kind of woman, Regina, your father and I approve. It may take some time
to get used to having a daughter, but I think we can all live with it, and if someone has a problem with it, well, they
can just suck on a photon torpedo."

That made me laugh, mother and I had never been very close, but maybe that would change now. "Any word when I can go back
on duty? As much as I'd like to spend all day trying on replicator fashions, Commander Le Forge is shorthanded and really
needs me."

She says, "That's the reason for my call, I'm your approval. I just needed to talk to you, my new daughter. You can go
back on duty any time. I will send the communication to HQ and forward to Captain Picard and Dr Crusher." Reading between
the lines of what I had said, she adds, "Be careful daughter, go slow. Reg had always been too slow at relationships, you,
Regina, don't need to be too fast with them. They will happen at there own pace, just accept that." She got a little teary
eyed, "I love you Regina Alicia Barclay, take care of yourself."

I teared up too, "I love you mom! Tell dad I love him too!" With that, the screen showed the Federation seal and the
message ended. "Computer, ship time please?"

It responds, "Ship time is 0840 hours, your normal duty shift begins in 20 minutes."

"Computer, replicate standard duty uniform, skirt variant, for Lt. Regina Alicia Barclay." It appears in the slot. "Thank
you computer." A quick sonic shower and dressed and I'm ready for my first day on duty as a woman. And I felt wonderful.

End of Chapter 3